FlexWatt/Rack

[jakemyster44]

I know there have been tons of these posts, but I promise this is all different material than what has already been covered, I looked like crazy and still couldnt find the answers to these questions.

As some of you may know, I plan to build a rack system sometime this winter. You can see pictures of my plans below. THe main concern I have is invlving the FlexWatt. I put up two pictures I drew out below. Is one of them correct, or are they both? I want to connect them all, rather than having a plug for each segment of FlexWatt, as I will be monitering this with a dimmer, and it is easyier to use one dimmer than six. When you connect all the segments, if you use the illustrated in blue, how would you go about soldering two cords to one end (it would be a total of four cord ends)?

My last question is with the dimmers. I plan to purchase everything I need from The Bean Farm, and want to get te dimmer they have available. When you are connecting the FlexWatt to the dimmer, do you plug into the dimmer, or run your wires up to the dimmer, hook it up, and then have a plug going fromn the dimmer to an outlet (if this makes sense)

Well anyways, here are the pictures. Let me Know what you think.

 

[jakemyster44]

here is an edited picture.

A- is the connection I am talking about... I think I figured that out now.
B- I will use an extension cord for this, stripped and split so I can hook up to each end, and have a plug. Do you plug into the dimmer or what?
C- These wires (not just the ones with arrows comming from them) are the confusing ones. Can I buy a spool of "electric cable" or something? Thanks.

 

[tangerineman]

some input

"A- is the connection I am talking about... I think I figured that out now.
B- I will use an extension cord for this, stripped and split so I can hook up to each end, and have a plug. Do you plug into the dimmer or what?
C- These wires (not just the ones with arrows comming from them) are the confusing ones. Can I buy a spool of "electric cable" or something? Thanks.
__________________
-Jake"
end of quote/


use #1, not #2, number two will cause the flexwatt to be upside down,
from my undertsanding the manufacturer does not intend it to be used upside down.

you can get lamp wire, and wire nuts from any hardware store, i use heavier gauge wires but the principles are the same.

i have connected the flexwatt both ways, directly with a dimmer inline, 'hardwired' ,

and then with plug ends, which are available in a easy to use form,
the deciding factor was how many connections had to be made, and how they would be used.

..for many shelves or a rack it is useful to wire in parallel, all shelves, or at least create zones.

i hope i helped to answer some of your questions..
Duane

btw.
you can use lamp wire, available by the foot , at any hardware store.
Usually there is a lighter and a heavier gauge, i use the heavier for flexwatt wires.

i also make dimmer 1900 boxes, using a dual opening type cover, I'll put a normal outlet wired to a slide dimmer, so it is essentially a heavy duty dimmer extension cord. I plug various things into this that need to be heat controlled the same way.

 

[tazz0710]

im pretty sure #2 is better option and it wouldn't make it upside down as you can connect on either end of the flex watt.

 

[hoppslover]

Jake check this out. It might help you but looks just like #1. http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_parallel.pdf

 

[jakemyster44]

Thanks alot guys!

 

[skyhawk52]

Looks like a good set up Jake! Not sure on the FlexWatt. Never even heard of it. But I am looking forward to seeing the end result.

Jen

 

[tangerineman]

my apologies, i was quickly looking at the drawings...

yeah 2 is still the same as #1, really,
just a preference of how you are running it,
my suggestion would be with shelving though, to cut a slice out of one side of the rack, and let your flexwatt run out, so that connection are made outside of the rack (see pic), this is extremely helpful if you have any concerns about any liquids getting in the rack, or leaks from above, also having all your connections on one side makes it easier to manage wiring, easier to check all connections at once, and easier to hide cosmetically imho,

i saw some rack builders putting flexwatt in a continuos loop using it right side up and upside down winding it through the shelves, this is what i was advising against...as every other shelf's flexwatt is upside down with that method...

good luck-
Duane

 

[jakemyster44]

Ok, thanks I'll look into that... thats whatsgreat about making your own shelves. I think I will use peg-board for the actual shelves, and frame it with oak plywood to give it strength...

 

[2.1SRR.YYC]

I wired mine the same but I used the "bus bar" concept for the wiring. The advantage is that I can easily connect or disconnect any shelf from the electricity with the turn of a screw.

The wiring for each heat tape comes out the back like this...
In the picture the wire is shown sitting on the shelf but it actually comes out the back board to the block shown below.

This is where the top five shelves connect. The actual line wiring coming from the temp controller connects to the free spots on the block. This picture was before the incomming electricity was connected. If you want to take a shelf off-line you simply loosen the setscrew and pull one of the white lines to the shelf off the block.
Make sure you keep the polarity correct or you'll get a short circuit. Most white power cords will have a ribbed side and a smooth side indicating the polarity.